The Miracles of Calvary: #3 Earthquake
Matthew 27:50-54 – Victory Fellowship
March 20, 2022 - Rev. Roderick Grabski
I. INTRODUCTION
When considering the accounts of all the Gospels, Jesus’ death on the cross was accompanied by six miraculous events that lead to the concluding evidence of His Resurrection:
1) The Miraculous Darkness
2) The Tearing of the Temple Curtain
3) The Miraculous Earthquake
4) The Miracle of Opened Graves
5) Jesus’ Undisturbed Grave Clothes
6) Revivals to Life in the Calvary Graveyard
7) Resurrection Sunday: Evidence of the Resurrection
In my sermons, leading up to and including Easter, I will focus on each of these miracles. Jesus is more than a man and at His death, AND RESURRECTION, all Heaven and Earth proclaimed their witness.
II. THE MIRACULOUS EARTHQUAKE
A. Something to talk about and remember
a. Earthquake in Vermilion in 1986. On 31 January 1986, at 11:46 EST, an earthquake of mb = 5.0
b. The Gospel account never challenged.
B. The Nature of the Event
a. It was Supernatural and Miraculous.
C. Four “Coincidences”
a. It happened at the Death of Jesus.
b. It occurred along with other Miracles.
c. It coincided with Jesus’ last cry
d. It split rocks but didn’t shake the cross
D. What the Earthquake Testified:
a. The former prophesy of the evil of sin.
(Ex 19:16-19) So it came about on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud upon the mountain and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled.17 And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.18 Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke because the LORD descended upon it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently.19 When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him with thunder.
b. The present prophesy of God’s Grace.
c. Creation shares in the victory.
(Romans 8:18-22) 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.19 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.
d. Joy instead of Pain.
(Isaiah 53:3-5) 3 He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. 4 Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.
III. CONCLUSION
The Miraculous Earthquake revealed the Power and the Purposes of God
PRAYER
SONG: The Cross Forever Speaks
Matthew 27:50-54 50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. 51 And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split. 52 The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many. 54 Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!"
